LinHES

LinHES includes custom scripts that install and configure the MythTV PVR software as well as a number of add-ons.

LinHES comes as a CD-ROM software distribution which automates the setup of the popular MythTV package as well as several HTPC-related add-ons.

The front-end is the software required for the visual elements (or the GUI) that the regular user can utilize to find, play and manipulate media files etc.

A full front-end and back-end system may have an advantage in that it has 'portability', i.e. it is a standalone device that is not dependent on a separate server (like a video game console for example).

An advantage of keeping the server PC outside the living room is that the cooling fan required to accommodate a 'fast' processor can be quite noisy (as can certain hard drives), it can be expensive to invest in fanless/heat sinking equipment to avoid such noise problems.